Apparatus for packaging articles



Feb. 16, 1954 J. w. ORMSBY APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 51, 1950 R O T N E V m Feb. 16, 1954 -J. w. ORMSBY 2,669,076

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 31, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 16, 1954 J. w. ORMSBY 2,669,076

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 31, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR [4415; M flz/usar Fb. 16, 1954 J w, QRMSBY 2,669,076

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 51, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 44 JEEa. raga r'=i 54 6'6 66 69 h a I I INVENTOR. James W dew/say Feb. 16, 1954 J. w. ORMSBY APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 31, 1950 69 6 55 WFPQ ,5, ll ll. u. T 75 76 57 76 "75, 51a

M. I 7 I 5 s5 47 5a 3'5 5 5a L 55 L4 53 5 87 4/ 6/ 6'4 60 I, I, (f; I m 0'6 20 66 66 6; 77 0 68% llll |u |l ||m|..' q 7 77- i (Zr/was M dew/$6? Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR="PACKAGING narrows James William 0rmsby,New'Y0rk, N. Y.

ApplicationAugust 31, 1950, Serlal No. 182L471- 101Claims. (eras-91) v This. invention relates to packaging 1 machines and .more particularly to means for. opening or erecting a folded carton and assembling canned goods therein.

One type of carton or package carrieri which has been adopted for packaging canned goods is rectangular. in shape and has open ends, The canned goods are disposed in the carton in sidebyeside in-line relationship to each other.. The outer. cans protrude from the open ends of the cartonslightly less than half the round of said outer. cans. Flaps are provided at the top and bottom of the .open ends of the carton and when foldedinto thesaid open ends they act as means for locking the outer cans in the carton by en! gagingmtheupper, and. lower chines'of said outer cans...

The present invention'is directed to apparatus for opening folded carton andassembling cannedgoodstherein and .to illustrate the invention, ap-

paratu's-is described for opening a carton of the type described above and assembling canstherein. Howevenlt will be appreciated -that the -.inven'- tionmay be utilized .for' the opening of "cartons of different sizes and shapes and .theassembling of canned orotherarticles in said containers-or cartons, and thatcthe-presentdescription asit relatesto specific apparatus is-merely illustrative A of one form in which the invention maybe practiced. Anotheriimportant object oftthe, present. in vention is to provide a simplified packaging ma chine in which the apparatus for feeding folded containers or cartons :is provided with 'meansfor openingzthe cartons in :an opening station and additional means --formoving the-opened carton. out of. the openingstation. v

Another object of the invention is torprovide a fully automatic means for openingrcartons and; assembling articles therein. I

A further object of the invention is-toprovide an. automatic apparatus for assembling cannedgoods in open-ended. cartons wherein theouter cans are retained in saidcartons by -flaps .in the open, ends, ,or cut-outs inthetopand' bottom adapted to cooperate to effect the opening Jot-the carton :as the carton .feeding member is rotated toward said opening station and rotatable article feeding members having article carrying --means disposed -on their-respective peripheries having associated meansfor delivering articles to "said carrying means and article receiving -stations disposed adjacent to the peripheries of the article feeding members, means insaid article receivingstations forintercepting the articles disposed in the carrying means :on the article feeding"mem bers as the latter are rotated toward saidarticle receiving stations, trackwayabetween said earticle receiving stations and an vassembly station wherein the articles 'can be assembled with the carton or container'whioh has'been opened. Cam surfaces are provided on the periphery :ofthe carton feeding member to engagethe carton-and move it gout of the xcarton opening station subsequent tothe opening operation-and cam sur faces are provided on the peripheries of the respective article feeding devices for engaging the articles: after they have been received in the article receiving stations and "thereafter move said articles rout of said "article receiving stations and along said trackways toward the assembly station.-

For amore detailed: description of the invention, reference "is :made to the drawings illustrat ing'one form of apparatus embodying the-invention: 1

Fig.1 is aside view of the carton feed portion of theapparatus;

Fig. 2 is aside view showing one of the'can or articlefeeding portions of the apparatus; 3

Fig. 3 shows-the'relationship of the carton feed member 'and the can feed members when mounted on a-common shaft;

Fig. 4 is aplan view of a portion 'of' the paratus;

Figs. 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d are enlarged side views of the carton opening and the assembly station's showing a carton and the carton feed member, in the several successive positions during the carton opening operation; I H

'Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view taken along the line 5-6 in Figs. 1 and 4;

Fig. 6a is a portion of the view in Fig. 6 at a different stage of the operation;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through a carton which has cans assembled therein;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the carton before the cans have been ins rted;-

Iig-Q is a top. view of the'foided carton on the 3 carton feed member as viewed from line 9--9 in Fig. 1;

Fig. is a partial section along the line !J|0 in Fig. 9;

Fig. ll is a partial section along the line I l-l l in Fig. 9; and

Figs. 12a and 122) are top views of the can guides as viewed along the lines i2a-l2a and i2bl2b, respectively, in Fig. l.

The apparatus embodying the invention which is shown in the drawings consists of a carton feed member In best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, can feed members H, l2 and I3 shown in Figs. 2 and 4; a carton opening and first assembly station I4 shown in Figs. 1 and 4; a second assembly station I5, and can receiving stations l6, l1 and I8, shown in Fig. 4 with trackways l9. Edand 2| connecting several can receiving stations with the first and second assembly stations. The carton feed member 1 i! and the can feeding members I I. I! and [3 are fixed on a common shaft 22, which is adapted to be power driven, to rotate the several members in the direction indicated in Figs. 1,2, and 3.

Referring to Fig. i, the carton feeding member l0 may be comprised of side portions 23 separated by spacers 24 and maintained in parallel relation by suitable means such as bolts 25 and nuts 26. The peripheries of the side portions 23 of the carton feed member H] have successive cam arcs 40 and steps 28 formed therein, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

Folded cartons 35 are fed to the periphery of the carton feed member ID, i. e. to th peripheries of the side portions 23 which form theperiphery of the member I 0, by any suitable feeding mechanism such as the chain and sprocket device, indicated generally at 21 in Fig. 1. Each carton is passed through a slideway 32 and is delivered to the periphery of the carton feed member It. As the latter rotates to the cam step 28, the carton slides into position against the base 29 of the cam step and is maintained against displacement by the fingers 30 which are resiliently mounted at pins 3| on the inside of the side portions 23. The carton is also maintained against displacement by the guide members 34 which are fixed above the periphery of the member l0. As the carton 35 is received from the slideway 32 and becomes seated against the base 25 of the cam step 28 it is held against lengthwise displacement of the fingers 39.

The leading flaps 36 extending from the sides of the car on (see Fig. 9) are folded upward by the guide rails 31 adjacent the outer sides of the side portions 23 of the member It, as shown in Fig. 11. The trailing flaps 38 are urged downwardly by the rails 3'3, as shown in Fig; 10. The angle at which the flaps of the flat'carton intercept guide rails 3'! as the carton is received on the periphery of the member It! enables the rails 3's to dispose themselve initially so that'the leading flaps 36 are above said rails and the trailing flaps 38 are beneath said rails. As the member ID is rotated in the direction indicated in Fig. l, the carton is moved down and around so that the flaps engage the flattened plow-like members 39 which cause the flaps to be folded to a position substantially at right angles to the plane of the carton, the leading flaps 35 being folded upward and the trailing flaps 33 being folded downward at right angles, as indicated in Fig. 5c. The members 39 are omitted in Fig. 5a to show the positions of the flaps.

As the member it! continues to rotate the cam are surface 40, on the carton feed member ID,

4 pushes the previously opened and partially filled carton from station It to station l5 thereby clearing the station I 4 to receive the new carton 35 which is to be opened. The clearing action of the cam are 4?! is best shown in Fig. 5a.

Fig. 5b illustrates the manner in which the folded carton 35, carried on the periphery of the member in, is intercepted by the floor portion ii of the carton, opening and first assembly station M. The leading edge 42 of the carton slides across the floor 4! until it is stopped by abutment against the lower edge 33 of the preceding carton which has already been opened and moved into station I5.

As the member it continues its rotation, the fingers 30 pressing against the trailing edge #3 of the carton 35 causes the folded carton to flex open in the manner shown in Fig. The resilient members M which are mounted on the peripheries of the portions are adapted to continue pushing against the trailing edge 43 and the adjacent side 8 of the carton 35 to complete the opening operation. Guide plates il which are continuations of guides 34, are fixed directly above the opening station Hi to insure that the opened carton is squared properly and to maintain it in erected and open position in the station M. 7

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, the can feeding members ll, l2 and it each consist of side portions 48 which are held in spaced relationship by spacers 49, bolts 59 and nuts 5|. The periphcries of th several can feeding members have formed therein successive cam arcs 52 and cam steps 53. Cans are delivered to each of the several can feeding members by suitable separate delivery means such as the magazine or rack 54, shown in Fig. 2, in which the cans 55 are held in side-by-side relationship with their respective axes horizontal. The bottom can in each rack 5A is restrained by portions ift of members I I, 52, It.

As the can feeding members ll, 12 and !3 are rotated by the main shaft 22, successive cans are fed to the peripheries of each of the can feeding members as a cam step 53 is presented beneath and adjacent to the respective delivery racks 55 supplying each can feed member. The can feeding members ll, l2, l3 rotate in unison, and the cans 55 which are seated on the peripheries of said members against the cam steps 53 are intercepted at the can receiving stations I6, I! and I8 by the floor portions 56 extending between the sides 48 of the several can feeding members (see Figs. 2 and 4).

Continued rotation of the can feeding members causes the cans to be pushed out of the can receiving stations, along the trackways l9, Zil and 2| in the directions indicated. The pushing movement is effected by the cam arc surfaces 52 which engage the sides of the cans 55 and move the forward as the radius of each of the cam arcs increases. In Fig. 4 the solid lines indicate the positions of the can feeding members ll, [2 and I3 at the time of delivery of the cans to the can receiving stations [6, l1 and i8 and the suc cessive dot dash lines to the left of the solid lines indicate the several positions of the can feeding members as the radius of each of the cam arcs 52 increases, thereby pushing the cans along the several trackways as the cam arcs are rotated. The side portions 48 of the can feed members may be bevelled onthe inside, as shown in Fig. i, to cradle the cans and prevent their lateral displacement.

Fig. 3 indicates the relative cam action' of the certonfeedingand can feedingrmembers. :Startingat the end .of the, carton push-'atithe lower right-hand end of the figure, the several phases of the carton opening; and advancing and can advancing are illustrated. As the several feeding members are rotated about the common axis, on shaft2-2, thecarton opening or erecting is initiated. Duringthe carton openingphase, cans are positioned in the several-can receiving stations l5, Hand 18; as shown in Fig. 4, and the cam arc surfaces 52 on the can feeding members H, I2 and I3 begin to advance the cans along the respectivetrackways .19, 20 and 2| toward'the assembly stations l4 and I5.

Afterythe carton, is fully opened there is a period of dwell in'station 14 while the cam arcs of the can feed members continueto-push the cans forward along ,the trackways; When the trackways are filled with cans asshown in Fig. 4, the pushing movement by the can feed members on the can adjacent the can receiving stations I causes all 13116109115 in the trackway to advance approximately the pitch of one can diameter so that the cans adjacent the assembly stations l4 and I5 will move into the open ends of the cartons. Referringagain to Fig. 3, while thecans continue to be pushed so that they enter the open ends of the carton, the ,cam surface 40 on the member engages the side of the carton and starts to push it out of station l4 toward station l5. After the carton has beenpushed part way out of station M, the can pushing stops and. the cans dwell in thetrackways until the next operation starts. The carton cam'arc continues to push the carton until it has moved completelyoutof station 14 and-is positioned in station l5. The apparatus has-thus completed oneoperation. A carton has been fed to station 14, opened and two cans were fed into the carton, one entering the. open end of the carton adjacent trackway I 9 and the other entering the :open end of the carton adjacent trackway 20.- During the operations, recited above which take place in station M, the carton which was displaced previously from station 14 to station I5 receives a third can through the open end of. the carton adjacent trackway 2|.

Turning now to the details of the assembly operation, the carton when it has :been: fully opened in station l4. asshown .in Figs. 6 and- 8, is in position. to receive cans which are pushed forward along trackways -I Stand 20. Referring to Fig. 6,-resilientf1ap fingers 66 have:hooked ends 61 to intercept the outer edges .of the upper and lower chines 65 of. the cans entering the station l4. Flap fingers 66 are attached to arms 68 dise posed above and below-the cartons. each ofthe armsv B8 is zpivotally mountedto bracketsfifi; as shown in 'Figs. 1, 5a, 12a and 12b. Thearms 68 are connected by a crossbrace'lZ. The, frame, including the-arms '68and cross brace 12, to which thezupper'fiap fingers B8 are connected, is designated generally as!!! in-Ffigs." l, 5a,".6 and 12a. The frame 10 is connected to a cam track, 13 provided on the outerface-ofone side portion 23 of the member ID. A cam follower 14 journaled in the free ,end of one of the arms tsmoves along thetrack 13." The frame, to which-the lower flap fingers ,66 are connected, is; designated. generally as H in Figs. 1,' ,5a,16 and 12b. -The frame H is connected to a cam track '76- bymeans of a cam follower 11 journaled in the free end of one of the lower arms 88. r Referring-to Rig. .6; as the. cansadvance along; the ;.trackways 1 I 8 ;-and:;22 0 .toward. the fopen ends 58 and; 59 of the carton. they move from a'position. as illustrated by the cansshown in solid line to the positionshown in dot dash-lines .(at opening 58). By this movement-the upper :and lower chines 60 of the-can contact the members 66' and press them toward the-carton. opening and, in turn, the crooked portionsor :ends .61 on the members 66 press against the flaps 36.and 38 causing the flaps to foldintothe openends of the carton. When the cans have reached the dot dash line positionshowninFig; 6,-zthe. frame 10 is raisedxupward. and the frame H is drawn downward by-the cam action imparted .torsaid frames by the'cam followers .14 and-.11 .moving in respective cam tracks 13 "and 16. The. movement of the'frames 10 and'll causes the--flap fingers -66 to move out of .theirpositions between the chines 60 and the fiaps,zproviding:a guiding or shoe-horn effect for the cans 55 as they move into the openings Stand 59,- as shown in Fig. 6a. The cans move fartherinto the openings5'8 and 59-and the chinesfifl continue the foldingof the flaps.

It will be understood that the upper flap-fingers 66 of both sides of station. andthe lower flap fingers-Beef both' sides of'station I 4 move -in unison. However, for purposes'of illustration, the .flaprfingers at the leftside of, Fig. 6-shown in full line indicate the positionsof the flap fingers before the cans move into the station l4 and the dotdash line shown at the upper right-hand side of therfigure illustrate the actionof the flap fingers as the can begins its rmovementintonthe station;

Referring-to Fig. 4, asthecans move-along the trackways l9 and 20, they are guided by -vside rails 82 which may he -suitably supported'asby posts 83 spaced. along thetrackwaysr iThe cans are maintained againstivertical displacement by guides (84. whichyare iheld in position by" supports 85 as shown in Fig.4.

The floor portions (were inclined. slightly up. ward at'their ends 81 adjacent the station It; as shownin Fig. 6,to assist the cans in passing over the loweredges of-the carton openingsas the cans enter said station. The ends 81 also-serve as. abutments for said .lower'edges to-prevent lateral: displacement of i the; carton; during .7 the assembly operations.

Referring to Fig. 4, during the dwell of the carton in station l4; thecan intrackwaydfi is advanced from the position la to lb and the canin trackway 20 is moved from late 2b: As the :carton. begins to move out of station: H- to station lithecans continue their inward movement-until they reachthe-positions .10 and 20. During the subsequent can :well' the carton is moved to station lfiiandis directlyainline. with trackwayi'l.

As: the canton dwells in station i 5 the next can pu'shmmoves the can .in-trackway 2| from th e position 3a to 3b; thereafter-asthe carton begins its movement out .of station 15, thecan: from trackway 2| continues to advance intothecarton until it reaches the position 30. The cans which were "assembled in the carton at station M are moved to theirfinal positions, l'd'and {Zdby the movement of'the'third canfrom Ebto 3c.-

' The cans are now-fully assembled in the carton as shown in Fig. 7, the outer cans are retained in position by the flaps engaging the inner sides of'the rims or chines 6t, andthe centercan--is held-between the tv'vcouier'cnes. It will-be n-oted that: the scan from trackway i 9" is pushed inward to! I01 and :2 thereafter is. moved outward to idl- 7. The purpose of the additional movement is to insure that the fiaps are correctly positioned against the inner sides of the chines 60. I

It will be understood that, while one carton is being erected or opened in station l4 and is receiving two cans, the preceding carton, which was previously opened and into which two cans were assembled, is in station 55 receiving the third can. However, for purposes of illustration, the description of the assembly operations was confined to a single carton as it moved from assembly station M to assembly station 15.

' To assist the cans moving from trackway 2| into the carton in station [5, upper and lower flap fingers 88 (see Figs. 1, a, 12a and 121)) are provided. The fiap fingers 88 are fixed to arms 68 and function in unison with and in the same manner as flap fingers 65.

' As the cans move laterally into the open ends 58 and 59 of the carton 35 in the stations I4 and I5, it is desirable to hold the carton against lateral displacement and to insure uniform entry of the cans into the said open ends. To prevent displacement, the floor 41, in station it, is provided with perforations 5! connected to a vacuum chamber 62 below the floor, as shown in Fig. 6. A tube 63 connected to the chamber 52 is attached at its other end to suitable evacuating or suction means (not shown). By evacuating the air from chamber 62 when the carton is disposed in open position in station M, the carton is maintained in position on the floor 4|, the bottom 64 of the carton being held tightly against the perforations El. The vacuum is released at the time the carton is pushed from station M to station l5.

In addition to the suction or vacuum means,

and also the raised ends 8! of the trackways 86, which act to prevent lateral displacement of the lower part of the carton, resilient side guides 65, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 6a, are disposed at the top edges of the carton to prevent displacement of the upper part of the carton. Side guides 65 are fixed to the member 51, disposed between guide plates 41, by resilient leaf springs '55 by suitable means such as screws i8. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5a, the side guides 65 are so spaced that the flap fingers 55 may move freely into contact with the cartons at stations 14 and I5.

Because of the closeness of the fit of the cans in the carton some distortion of the carton at the top and bottom of openings 58 and 59 occurs during the assembly operations. To allow for the distortion at the bottom of the carton, spaces 19 are provided between the floor M of the assembly stations and the trackway floors 86, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 12b. The upper side guides 65 are sufficiently resilient to accommodate the distortion at the top of the carton openings; The spaces 19 also permit the passage of the side portions 23' of the member H] as the cam are 49 of the carton feed pushes the carton out of station l4.

Lower side guides 8t and 81, shown in Figs. 12a, 1212, are provided to prevent lateral displacement of the cartons when they have moved be yond the raised ends 37 of the trackway floors 85. The lower side guide 80 begins adjacent trackway I9 and extends past station l5 to the delivery point (not shown) beyond said lastmentioned station. Lower guide 8!) acts as an abutment in conjunction with the upper guide 65 on that side of the carton, i. e. the side having opening 59 therein, to prevent lateral dis- 8 placement'as the third can is pushed into opening 58 from trackway 2|, while the carton is positioned in station l5.

Lower side guide 8| begins adjacent trackway 2| and extends to the delivery point beyond station l5. The lower side guides 85 and Bi are thin rigid strips of metal or other material and may be affixed by suitable means, such as screws 89, to the sides of floor 41, as shown in Figs. 5a-5d. As shown in Fig. 12b, the floor 4| is the width of the carton, i. e. the dimension between open ends 58 and 59 in the area in which lower side guides 80 and 8| are attached. The guides project above the plane of the floor 4| a distance equal to the bottom thickness of the carton to act as curbs and retain the carton against lateral displacement as it moves from station l5 to the point of delivery.

After cartons have been filled as described they move out of station l5 to a delivery chute or other delivery means.

Apparatus of the type described may be provided with any suitable automatic means for stopping the machine in the event that the articles become misplaced or, in some manner, the operation becomes jammed. Such safety devices may be provided by having the side guide rails 82 as shown in Fig. 4, and their supporting posts resiliently displaceable outwardly at the curves of the trackways I9, 20 and 2|, in the areas designated generally at 90. Fixed stanchions 91 may be disposed out from the support posts 83 and springs 92 may be interposed between the stanchions 9| and the posts 83. Springs 92 act to bias the posts 83 and their associated guide rails 82 against outward movement during the ordinary pressures of operation, but permit the rails 82 to move outward when excessive pressure is exerted. Suitable means, such as micro switches 93, may be positioned so as to be contacted by central posts 83 as the rails 82 are displaced outward under excessive pressure. 1 The micro switches 93 may be connected to main controls of the apparatus to stop the device when all or any one of them is contacted by a rail 82. Therefore, obstruction in the delivery or assembly operations will cause the actuation of the mircro switches.

In the apparatus described and illustrated, the carton and article feeding and advancing members are mounted upon a common shaft and are rotated in unison. However, it will be appreciated that the several members may be mounted on separate shafts, e. g. in such an arrangement that the article feeding members rotate about axes at right angles to the axis of the carton feed, and so that the axes of said article feeding members are parallel to the path along which the carton is advanced during the erecting and assembling operations.

In the illustrated apparatus, the carton and article feeding members are designed to efiect three operations in each complete rotation about their common axis. Thus, when the apparatus is in full operation, 1. e. with the trackways fully loaded and with cartons in stations l4 and I5, and the shaft 22 is rotated at 20 R. P. M., completely loaded cartons will be delivered every minute. By increasing or decreasing the size or shape of the feed and advancing members or the rate of their rotation the output of the apparatus may be varied. Similarly, by Chang ing the shapes of the cam arcs and varying of the depth of the cam steps. the apparatus may be adapted for erecting cartons or containers of steam different sizes and shapes and for packing. therein articlesof different sizes and shapes. Also, by slight modification; the illustrated apparatus conldbe used to'open'and fill cartons having m'ulftiplearticle receiving chambers, i. e. one or more additional compartments alongside the single compartment shown herein.

The-apparatus set out in the specification'and the invention embodiedin the described apparatus' efficiently fulfills the objects and purposes of'the invention and provides an eflicient. and rapid continuous operational system for opening folded cartons and assembling articles" therein. Ifhe invention may be employedwithequaladvantage in many types of assembling operations.

I In accordance with the provisions of the. patent statutes, the principles:ofthistinvention have. been described together with the best mode of applying those principles. However, it should be understood that the structure "disclosed is but, onemodeof utilizing the inventionyand the structure disclosed is merely illustrative, for the invention can be carried out by other and alternative means. Also, while it is contemplated to use Various features and elements in the combinations and relations described, some L of these may be altered and modified'in ways other than those suggested, without 'departing from the spirit and scope oi. vthe invention.

"Having thus described'my invention, I claim: 1

1. A packaging machine for placingthreecans in. an open-ended carton in side-by-side single line relationship, the combination, comprising, a main shaft adapted to be power driven, a carton feed member .fixedion said shaft for rotation therewith having means on its periphery'toreceive a folded carton, a carton opening and first assembly station disposed adjacent the periphery of said carton feed member, means for delivering a folded carton to'the carton receiving means of said carton feed member, means on the periphery of said carton feed member adapted to co-act with, means in the carton opening and first assembly station to open'the carton and release it from theperiphery of the carton feed member as saidmember is rotated, a plurality of can feed members fixedlymounted on said main shaft for rotation therewith, can receiving means provided on the peripheries of said can feedingmembers,

can receiving stations disposed adjacent the pe- I ripheries vof said several can feeding members, trackways connecting said can receiving stations with the carton opening and first. assembly station, asecond assembly station disposedbeyond said first assembly station, a trackway'connecting. at least one of said can receiving stations with said second assembly station, cam surfaces on said can feeding members for moving cans along said traokways from. said can receiving stations, to said first and second assembly stations, cam surfaces on the periphery ofthe'cartonfeed member for moving the opened carton which has been partially filled'with' cansoutof the carton opening and'first; assembly station and into said second assembly station.

' 2. In a paclraging'machine, wherein threecans are assembled side by side and in-line,-in an openen'ded-carton'and wherein 'theouter cans adjacent the open ends of the carton are retained by carton flaps folded-into -theppen ends of the carton which engage the-upper and lower chines ofthe said outer cans; the combination, comprising, amain shaft. adapted to be-power driven, a-carton feed member fixed on said shaftand adapted for rotation therewith'; means on the-peri'phery of said member to receive a folded carton, means for delivering a folded carton to the carton receiving means, acarton opening'and first'assembly station disposed" adjacent the, periphery of said member,"means on the periphery of said carton feed member adapted to co-act with means in the carton openingand first assembly station to open the carton and'release it from the periphery of said carton feed member asthe latter is rotated, means for folding the naps into the open ends of the carton, at leasttwo can feeding members fixedly mounted on said main shaft for rotation therewithand disposed on opposite sides of the carton feedingmember, can carrying meansprovided on the peripheries of said-pan feeding members, means for delivering-cans to said. carrying means, can'receiving stations dis posed adjacent the peripheries of said can feediiig'members, means at said can receiving-stationsfor intercepting sans carried on' said can feedingmembers, trackways for guiding'cans from the can receiving stations to the carton opening and first assembly station, camsurfaces on said can feeding members for engaging cans in the can receiving stations and pushing them out of said receiving stations along saidtrackways toward the carton opening and first assembly station, a second assembly station disposed beyond said first assembly'station, a tracieway from at least one of said can receiving-stations to, said second assembly station, and 0am surfaces on the periphery of thecarton feeding member for engaging the open, partiallyfilled, carton and pushing'itout of the first assembly station tosaid second assembly station wherein at least one additionalcan is assembled in the carton.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 whereinmeans for foldin the flap into the open ends of the carton comprise flap-folding guides fixed adjacent and atfthe. sides of the, path of the periphery of the carton, feeding member between the carton delivering means and the carton receiving and opening station andcam actuated resilient flapfolding means positioned above and below the carton opening station at the open ends ofthe carton and in the path of cans entering said open ends, said cam actuated flap-folding means being carried on arms pivotally fixed at-oneend'and having cam followers at the other, said cam followers engaging cam tracks provided on the sides of the carton feeding member, the fiap folding means having hooked ends adapted to fold the flaps into the open, ends of the carton when cans move into engagement with said flap-folding means, the fixed flap-folding guides adjacent the saidends, comprising, a main shaft adapted to be power driven, aecarton feed member fixed. on said .shaftand adapted for rotation therewith, means onhthe periphery of said member to receive a folded carton with the lines ofthe folds parallel to the axis of the main shaft,,a carton opening station disposed adjacent the periphery of said carton feed member, means for delivering afolded carton to the carton receiving means, means 'on' the periphery of said member adapted to engage" the trailing end of said folded carton and means provided in the carton opening station to co-act with said carton-edge engaging means to open the carton as the carton feed member is rotated toward the carton opening station, said carton edge engaging means being sufficiently resilient to release the carton edge when the latter is opened by the co-acting means in the carton opening station and means, for folding the flaps into the open ends of the carton, a cam surface provided on the periphery of the carton feed member to engage the side of the opened carton in the carton opening station and to push it out of said station to permit the positioning of a successive carton in said carton opening station.

5. A can feeding apparatus for use in assembling cans in cartons wherein said cans are assembled in vertical upright position by moving laterally into a receiving carton, comprising, in combination, a main shaft, at least one can feeding member fixedly mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, means provided on the periphery of said can feeding member adapted to carry cans, means for delivering cans to said can carrying means, a can receiving station disposed adjacent the periphery of said can feeding member, means disposed at said can receiving station for intercepting cans disposed in said can carrying means on the periphery of the can feeding member, an assembly station, at least one trackway for guiding cans from the can receiving station to an assembly station, at least one cam surface on said can feeding member for engaging cans in the can receiving station and pushing them out of said station along said trackway toward the assembly station.

6. In a packaging machine for opening and erecting cardboard cartons and feeding articles into said erected cartons, the combination comprising a carton erecting station, a rotatable carton feeding member having means on its periphery for receiving folded cartons and delivering them to a carton erecting station, means for delivering folded cartons to said carton receiving means, means in said carton erecting station and on said periphery to effect the erection of the carton as the carton feeding member is rotated toward said erecting station, rotatable article feeding members having article carrying means disposed on their respective peripheries, means adjacent said peripheries for delivering articles to said carrying means, article receiving stations disposed adjacent to the peripheries of the articles feeding members, means in said article receiving stations for intercepting the articles disposed in the carrying means on the article feeding members as the latter are rotated toward said article receiving stations, at least-one assembly station, trackways between said article receiving stations and said assembly station wherein the articles can be assembled with the erected carton, cam surfaces provided on the periphery of the carton feeding member to engage the carton and push it out of the carton erecting station subsequent to the erecting operation and cam surfaces provided on the peripheries of the respective article feeding devices for engaging the articles after they have been received in the article receiving stations and for pushing said articles out of said receiving stations and along said trackways toward the assembly station.

'7. In a packaging machine a carton feeding opening and advancing device comprising, a shaft adapted to be power driven, a carton feed mem- 12 her fixed on said shaft and adapted for rotation therewith, at least one means on the periphery of said member to carry a folded carton, means for delivering a folded carton to said carton carrying means, a carton receiving and opening station disposed adjacent the periphery of said member, a floor in said station for intercepting,

the carton as the carton carrying means on said member rotates toward said station, means for abutting the leading edge of said folded carton after it has been received in said station, resilient means at the periphery of said carton feed member adapted to engage the trailing edge of said folded carton and coacting with the abutting means in said station to open the carton as the resilient means moves toward the opening station during the rotation of said carton feed member, said carton edge engaging means being sufficiently resilient to release the trailing edge of the carton as the carton opens in the sta-- tion, a cam surface provided on the periphery of the carton feed member to engage the side of the opened carton and push it out of the station to permit the positioning of successive cartons in said carton opening station.

8. In a packaging machine for assembling articles in a container having at least one assembly station on a path along which containers are moved comprising, a floor for receiving containers in the path, said containers having at least one opening adjacent one side of the path, an assembly station on said path, at least one article delivering means positioned at the side of the path adjacent the assembly station for delivering articles into the open end of the container, means for preventing lateral displacement from said path including means for periodically applying a vacuum to the container to maintain it in fixed position on the floor while it is positioned at the assembly station, lower guide means along the sides of the path extending upward above the plane of the floor and adapted to engage the lower edges of the sides of the containers, and upper guide means resiliently mounted above the path and adapted to engage the upper edges of the sides of the cartons.

9. In a packaging machine, an article feeding and advancing apparatus comprising, an article carrying and feeding member rotatably mounted having successive cam arcs and cam steps formed in its periphery, an article delivery means disposed adjacent to the periphery of said member, said delivery means being positioned so that the article at the end of the delivery means adjacent the said periphery is in contact with the periphery, an article receiving station adjacent to the said periphery and spaced from the delivery means, the cam steps providing pockets to receive articles from the delivery means, means for rotating the member so that articles carried on the periphery move toward the receiving station, means in said receiving station for intercepting articles carried on the periphery of the member, the cam arcs on the periphery increasing in radius, between cam steps, in the direction of the rotation at least the width of the successive articles intercepted in the receiving station, and guide means for guiding articles as they are pushed out of said receiving station.

10. An apparatus for opening a folded rectangular carton having four sides joined by folds, comprising, a carton feed member rotatably mounted means on the periphery of said member so that the plane of the carton is tangent to the path of rotation of the member and the folds 13 are parallel to the axis of rotation, a carton opening station disposed adjacent to the periphery of the member, a floor portion in said station adapted to engage the leading edge of the folded carton at an angle such that the carton slides across 5 the floor away from the point of interception, means for arresting that-leading edge of the carton at a point in the opening station remote from the periphery of the said carton feed member, means on the periphery'of the feed member for engaging the trailing edge of the carton, said means moving the trailing edge toward the arrested leading edge as the feed member is rotated toward the opening station, guide plates fixed above and parallelto the floor of the opening station, and adapted to engage the top of the carton as the latter is opened in the station, the trailing edge-engaging means being sufficiently resilient to release the carton when the latter is opened inthe station.

JAMES WILLIAM ORMSBY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,275,759 Russell Aug. 31, 1918 1,824,432 Hendry Sept. 22, 1931 1,935,269 Jones Nov. 14, 1933 1,987,789 Mudd Jan. 15, 1935 1,993,079 Wild Mar. 5, 1935 2,050,547 Thayer "Aug. 11, 1936 2,124,962 Ferguson et a1 July 26, 1938 2,249,201 Ferguson July 15, 1941 2,314,434 Toelke Mar. 23, 1943 2,318,208 First et al May 4, 1943 2,441,372 Quigley et a1. May 11, 1948 2,510,251 Perilli June 6, 1950 

